Directions (1-8): Read the following passage and answer the given questions. Some words are highlighted to help you answer the questions.
An estimated 70 million more people shopped online in six Southeast Asian countries since the pandemic began, according to a report from Facebook and Bain & Company. As governments encouraged people to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Southeast Asia saw a rapid adoption of digital services like e-commerce, food delivery, and online payment methods. And that trend is likely to continue. The report, which surveyed more than 16,000 people in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, projected the number of digital consumers in Southeast Asia will reach 350 million by the end of this year.
By the end of 2021, Facebook and Bain expect more than 70% of people 15-years-old and above in the surveyed countries to shop online. The report predicted the number of online shoppers in Southeast Asia will reach 380 million by 2026. Among surveyed countries, the report said Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, continues to see the highest growth rate. Its digital consumer population is predicted to grow around 15%, from 144 million in 2020 to 165 million in 2021. Many parts of Southeast Asia are grappling with a resurgence of Covid due to the highly transmissible delta variant. Vaccination rates remain low in some emerging economies. As intermittent lockdowns and movement restrictions make it difficult for consumers to visit brick-and-mortar shops, many e-commerce markets have thrived. The survey, which was conducted in May, found that the share of respondents who said they shop “mostly online” rose from 33% in 2020 to 45% this year, with the greatest gains coming from Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Facebook and Bain projected that average online spending will grow 60% this year from $238 per person in 2020 to $381 per digital consumer. Online retail’s share of overall retail surged in Southeast Asia from 5% in 2020 to 9%, the report said, noting that pace is faster than in Brazil, China or India.
“Over the next five years, Southeast Asia’s ecommerce sales is also projected to keep pace with these countries, growing at 14% per year,” the report said. With more purchases being made online, fintech services such as “buy now, pay later,” digital wallets and cryptocurrencies have also become more widespread.
In the first three months of the year, 88% of private equity and venture capital investments in the region flowed into the technology and internet sector. Of that, 56% went into financial technology, according to the report. “We are looking at a massive triple explosion of fintech. Not only are regulators removing the regulation barriers, we’ll also see a roaring river of capital with no friction,” Dmitry Levit of Cento Ventures said in the report. Digital wallets were the preferred payment option for 37% of respondents, compared with 28% who preferred cash, 19% for credit or debit cards and 15% in favor of bank transfers. The Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam saw the biggest gains in digital wallet adoption, at 133%, 87% and 82% growth, respectively. Southeast Asia’s rapid digitalization during the pandemic proves the immense opportunity in the region’s digital economy, the report said. “The region will be a growth market for at least the next 10 years as new verticals, industries and products emerge,” Justin Hall, partner at Golden Gate Ventures said in the report.
Q1. Select the statement(s) which is/are INCORRECT as per the information given in the passage.
(I) Because of the highly transmissible delta variant, Covid has resurfaced in many parts of Southeast Asia.
(II) Many e-commerce marketplaces have grown when consumers struggle to access brick-and-mortar stores due to occasional lockdowns and mobility restrictions.
(III) Vietnam is the biggest economy in Southeast Asia and continues to have the highest rate of growth in the number of people who buy online.
(a) Only (I)
(b) Both (II) and (III)
(c) Only (III)
(d) Both (I) and (II)
(e) None of the above
Q2. With more people making purchases online, what observation can be made?
(a) Cryptocurrencies and digital wallets have grown exponentially in popularity.
(b) In Southeast Asia, online retail’s proportion of total retail is expected to increase from 5% to 9%.
(c) Fintech services such as “buy now, pay later” have become increasingly popular as more purchases are done online.
(d) Both (A) and (C)
(e) All of the above
Q3. What are the observations made about capital with no friction according to the report from Facebook and Bain & Company?
(A) We are bound to witness a raging decline of cash flowing freely.
(B) Digital wallet use increased the most in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
(C) Majority of the respondents chose digital wallets as their preferred payment method.
(a) Only (B)
(b) Both (B) and (C)
(c) Both (A) and (C)
(d) Only (A)
(e) All of these
Q4. Facebook and Bain anticipate that by the end of 2021 __________________________________.
(a) As new verticals, sectors, and products emerge, the area will be a growing market for at least the rest of the year 2021.
(b) The proportion of respondents who indicated they shop “mostly online” decreased from 45% in 2020 to 33% this year.
(c) In Southeast Asia, online retail’s proportion of total retail will increase from 5% in 2020 to 9%.
(d) Over 70% of consumers aged 15 and up in the examined nations (South Asian countries) will buy online.
(e) All of the above
Q5. What can be identified as the core message of the passage?
(a) The pattern that online businesses and retailers have observed in the entirety of Asia after the pandemic hit.
(b) Southeast Asia’s quick adoption of digital services such as e-commerce, meal delivery, and online payment systems.
(c) The adoption of electronic payment methods like digital wallets and cryptocurrencies and how it has impacted the economies around the world.
(d) Increase in online-shopping trend that is being experienced by the whole world, especially in the wake of a pandemic.
(e) All of the above
Q6. Choose the word which is most similar in meaning to intermittent as highlighted in the passage.
(a) sporadic
(b) malevolent
(c) discern
(d) placid
(e) None of the above
Q7. What is the antonym of continue as highlighted in the passage?
(a) obtuse
(b) plethora
(c) desist
(d) prevail
(e) All of the above
Q8. Choose a synonym for the word resurgence as highlighted in the passage.
(a) objective
(b) mercurial
(c) paranoia
(d) resurrection
(e) None of the above
Directions (9-13): In the following questions two columns are given containing three sentences/phrases each. In first column, sentences/phrases are A, B, and C and in the second column, the sentences/phrases are D, E and F. A sentence/phrase from the first column may or may not connect with another sentence/phrase from the second column to make a grammatically and contextually correct sentence. Each question has five options, four of which display the sequence(s) in which the sentences/phrases can be joined to form a grammatically and contextually correct sentence. If none of the options given forms a correct sentence after combination, mark (E), i.e. “None of these” as your answer.
Q9.
COLUMN I
(A) Ebola survivors can relapse and trigger outbreaks at least five years after infection,
(B) Crude oil WTI futures last traded with gains of 0.76 percent
(C) Paul Rusesabagina, who inspired the film ‘Hotel Rwanda,’
COLUMN II
(D) Big Billion Days sale 2021 sometime soon on account of the upcoming festive season.
(E) and long-term follow-up of former patients is needed to prevent devastating flare-ups, according to new research.
(F) has given birth to a baby girl, Buckingham Palace announced Monday.
(a) B-F and B-E
(b) A-F and C-D
(c) B-E
(d) A-E
(e) None of these
Q10.
COLUMN I
(A) The United States, Britain and Australia said on Wednesday they would establish a security partnership for the Indo-Pacific
(B) In controversial remarks against bureaucracy, senior BJP leader Uma Bharti
(C) A group of young climate activists on Wednesday insisted
COLUMN II
(D) they will continue their hunger strike in Berlin after one of them collapsed on Tuesday.
(E) US beginning in November when his administration will require all foreign nationals flying
(F) that will involve helping Canberra acquire nuclear-powered submarines, as Chinese influence over the region grows.
(a) C-F and B-E
(b) A-F and C-D
(c) B-E
(d) A-E
(e) None of these
Q11.
COLUMN I
(A) While debt is taken to scale up business in the corporate world
(B) Physical distancing of two metres about six and a half feet may not be enough
(C) International Day of Peace is an annual observance celebrated every year
COLUMN II
(D) September 24 to further cement the close relationship between the two countries, a senior US official said on Monday.
(E) the Asian nation was dealt another blow as England called off their upcoming tour to Pakistan.
(F) to sufficiently prevent transmission of virus-carrying airborne aerosols indoors, according to a study.
(a) C-F and B-E
(b) A-F and C-D
(c) B-F
(d) A-E
(e) None of these
Q12.
COLUMN I
(A) China is racing to control new local COVID-19 infections which
(B) South Asian Community Leader Ajay Bhutoria in a statement thanked
(C) Amid such a chaotic trading day, all of the indices barring the FMCG back ended in the red
COLUMN II
(D) have more than doubled in its southeastern province of Fujian.
(E) Jain community on the concluding day of Paryushan and Das Lakshan festival.
(F) they exchanged perspectives on regional developments, including the situation in Afghanistan.
(a) A-D
(b) C-F
(c) B-E
(d) B-D
(e) None of these
Q13.
COLUMN I
(A) Kolkata Knight Riders came up with a brilliant all-round effort to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore
(B) As the smart TV market is flourishing in India, Redmi is gearing up
(C) France’s ambassador to the United States reiterated in an interview Monday that the breakdown of the
COLUMN II
(D) has replaced Dilip Ghosh as the chief of West Bengal BJP.
(E) to launch new smart TV models in India next week.
(F) vaccine certification issued by Indian authorities amid criticism of the new British travel rules.
(a) C-F and B-E
(b) A-F and C-D
(c) B-E
(d) A-E
(e) None of these
Directions (14-15): In each question below a sentence with four words printed in bold type is given. One of these four words printed in bold may be either wrongly spelt or inappropriate in the context of the sentence. Find out the word which is wrongly spelt or inappropriate if any. The number of that word is your answer. If all the words printed in bold are correctly spelt and also appropriate in the context of the sentence, mark (E) i.e. ‘All correct’ as your answer.
Q14. Germany’s chancellor may have been hesitant to describe herself as a feminnist in the past, but as Angela Merkel counts down her last few days in office, it would appear she is making her position known.
(a) chancellor
(b) hesitant
(c) feminnist
(d) appear
(e) All correct
Q15. Taking part in the first meeting of Foreign Ministers of the neighbouring countries on Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China will provide Afghanistan with 200 million yuan (USD 31 million) worth of grains, winter supplies, vaccines and medicines as per its requirements, official media reported.
(a) Foreign
(b) neighbouring
(c) vaccines
(d) requirements
(e) All correct
Solutions
S1. Ans (c)
Sol. The statement which contains the wrong information is (III).
We need to read the second paragraph for the correct information instead. It says “The report predicted the number of online shoppers in Southeast Asia will reach 380 million by 2026. Among surveyed countries, the report said Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, continues to see the highest growth rate.”
Statements (I) and (II) are correct.
Statement (I) is mentioned in the second paragraph as well: “Many parts of Southeast Asia are grappling with a resurgence of Covid due to the highly transmissible delta variant.”
Statement (II) can be found below the previous statement: As intermittent lockdowns and movement restrictions make it difficult for consumers to visit brick-and-mortar shops, many e-commerce markets have thrived.
S2. Ans (d)
Sol. Both of the options (a) and (c) are correct for this question.
The two can be found in the same line in the last line of the third paragraph: With more purchases being made online, fintech services such as “buy now, pay later,” digital wallets and cryptocurrencies have also become more widespread.
S3. Ans (b)
Sol. Both of the options (B) and (C) are correct for this question.
They can be located in the last paragraph where it explains the situation about capital with no friction.
Statement (B) is “Digital wallets were the preferred payment option for 37% of respondents, ……….”.
The next sentence itself contains the statement (C) saying “The Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam saw the biggest gains in digital wallet adoption, at……….”.
S4. Ans (d)
Sol. Option (d) contains the statement with the correct answer.
It is located in the first line of the second paragraph “By the end of 2021, Facebook and Bain expect more than 70% of people 15-years-old and above in the surveyed countries to shop online.”
The rest of the options contain information which is incorrect.
Option (a) is incorrect because the last line of the paragraph mentions: “The region will be a growth market for at least the next 10 years as new verticals, industries and products emerge,” Justin Hall, partner at Golden Gate Ventures said in the report.
The last line of second paragraph helps dismiss option (b) as it says “The survey, which was conducted in May, found that the share of respondents who said they shop “mostly online” rose from 33% in 2020 to 45% this year, with the greatest gains coming from Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.”
The next paragraph contains information pertaining to option (c). It says “ Online retail’s share of overall retail surged in Southeast Asia from 5% in 2020 to 9%, the report said…”. This increase has already been recorded, hence, it cannot answer the question.
S5. Ans (b)
Sol. After reading the passage, we can clearly see that the answer lies in option (b). This passage talks about how digital consumers, specifically in Southeast Asia, are seeing a huge increase in their numbers.
The answer can also be found in the first paragraph itself where it is stated: As governments encouraged people to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Southeast Asia saw a rapid adoption of digital services like e-commerce, food delivery, and online payment methods.
S6. Ans (a)
Sol. The only word which can serve as a synonym for intermittent is option (a) sporadic. It means occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated and intermittent means occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady.
Malevolent means having or showing a wish to do evil to others.
Discern means recognize or find out.
Placid means not easily upset or excited.
S7. Ans (c)
Sol. The only word which can serve as an antonym for continue is option (c) desist. It means stop doing something; cease or abstain.
Obtuse means annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand.
Plethora means a large or excessive amount of something.
Prevail means to prove more powerful or superior.
S8. Ans (d)
Sol. The only word which can serve as a synonym for ‘resurgence’ is option (d) ‘resurrection’. It means bringing back something that has not existed or not been used for a long time and ‘resurgence’ means the return and growth of an activity that had stopped
mercurial means changing suddenly and without warning; reacting in an unexpected way
paranoia means a type of mental illness in which you wrongly believe that other people want to harm you
S9. Ans (d)
Sol. The only pair of options that can join to form one single sentence is (A) and (E).
The sentence, thus, formed is: Ebola survivors can relapse and trigger outbreaks at least five years after infection, and long-term follow-up of former patients is needed to prevent devastating flare-ups, according to new research.
S10. Ans (b)
Sol. The only pairs of options that can join to form two sentences are A-F and C-D
The sentences, thus, formed are:
A-F: The United States, Britain and Australia said on Wednesday they would establish a security partnership for the Indo-Pacific that will involve helping Canberra acquire nuclear-powered submarines, as Chinese influence over the region grows.
C-D: A group of young climate activists on Wednesday insisted they will continue their hunger strike in Berlin after one of them collapsed on Tuesday.
S11. Ans (c)
Sol. The only pair of options that can join to form one single sentence is (B) and (F).
The sentence, thus, formed is: Physical distancing of two metres about six and a half feet may not be enough to sufficiently prevent transmission of virus-carrying airborne aerosols indoors, according to a study.
S12. Ans (a)
Sol. The only pair of options that can join to form one single sentence is (A) and (D).
The sentence, thus, formed is: China is racing to control new local COVID-19 infections which have more than doubled in its southeastern province of Fujian.
S13. Ans (c)
Sol. The only pair of options that can join to form one single sentence is (B) and (E).
The sentence, thus, formed is: As the smart TV market is flourishing in India, Redmi is gearing up to launch new smart TV models in India next week.
S14. Ans (c)
Sol. The incorrectly spelled word is feminnist.
The correct spellings will be feminist.
S15. Ans (e)
Sol. All the highlighted words are correctly spelled.
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